Plot

Earthing February was always intended to illustrate the restrictions of that short, dark month. A month of isolation, starved of light, depression a bed fellow, nature furloughed. We didn't realise what was to come. We didn't know outside was to be rationed. Nor that the environment would begin a process of renaissance once humans were forced into their lairs. Earthing February features the collaboration of Scottish Italian poet Esa Aldegheri.

The grieflands The grieflands are shadow - filled. You are alone here, held apart, held down by the undertow of loss. Remembered freedom, touch and joy: that's what the shadows are, traces of life in the before. You carry them, they carry you. Unbidden, they reach reach for your throat. There is only one way out of here: through the long stretch of sadness. Grief is blinding. You turn away, stunned, twisting, grasping for threads to follow through the dark, to fashion into wings wings to lift you from the grieflands: anything, a sound a song a word. The undertow is strong. Grief is burning your mind your mouth your voice. The undertow is strong. Grief is binding you in a second skin, a shadow - woven slowness. You see nothing beyond. You feel nothing beyond. The undertow is strong. Little larva, you are held here. However muc h you try to leave this shadow - skin is yours, your own Grief a migraine that returns Grief a migraine of the soul Grief The undertow is strong Grief is finding its way to bring you to the end of whatever tether bound you to life as it was before, guiding you to the end of whatever you thought you were or knew of yourself. Here at end's ending is where you find the way out to the afterwards. The undertow, you know now, will never go away but you have crossed the grief lands and carry the shadow - gift: you can feel it, deep in your shining tides of blood your body's beat aware hungry again awake alive.

Esa Aldegheri is a Scottish / Italian academic and activist working in the field of migration and integration. She speaks five languages, is a researcher at the University of Glasgow and Chair of Edinburgh City of Sanctuary. @aldeghesa

The Earthing project is a year long collaborative exploration in response to nature and experience. Earthing February is one of a series of twelve short films. Each shot in a day during the named month, under the predominating weather conditions